A Post from MOM-

I was forwarded this letter from Brandon.  It was his letter from Makail.  I enjoyed them both so much that I felt like I needed to post them.  Especially, since today is Father's day.  
Enjoy-Shara

Thanks dad :) I like it. It´s a good parallel. So I´ve had some revelation this week on my mission: My whole life things have come easily to me. I didn´t have to put very much effort into school, finding a job, nor pretty much anything else. If there was something that didn´t come easy, I didn´t have to do it. On the other hand, here in the mision, I have to do a lot of things that don´t come easily to me. I have to be very effective with my time, I have to be diligent, I have to keep records, and I have to lovingly correct people because they´re doing things that they shouldn´t. All of these things have never been my strong suits...and I feel like the Lord is teaching me that I have to actually work for the baptisms, that they won´t just fall into my lap. I don´t know why it has taken me this long to realize, but Saturday night I asked my Heavenly Father, and about two minutes later I got the answer. So I´m learning how to struggle, and not see the fruits of my labors for a long time. However, I have the potential to be a great missionary...so I´m taking inventory and making goals to become that missionary. It´s never too late to start I guess.

I don´t know if that makes a whole lot of sense, but something clicked for me. Thanks for always sending me things that make me smile! Love you tons,

Hermana Swan

On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 5:07 PM, Brandon Swan <brandon_swan@hotmail.com> wrote:

So Sydney and I had a deep religious discussion this week that has made me start to think.  It started out with a thought about Jesus Christ and Satan being brothers.  One representing all good, the other representing all evil.  Jesus is known for his kindness, compassion, and example for doing things on faith for the future.  Satan is charismatic, yet selfish, and promotes power over others in the form of wealth, fear, and/or pain.  He does not endorse any belief of love beyond death.

Both of these brothers know the truth about the war in Heaven.  They both know our Father, and they both know each of us.

We are the ones who don't know the details of who we are, where we've been and where we will go.  We are the ones who have to exercise faith in the unknown or accept what we now know and see as all there is.

Jesus would have us believe there is much more after this life.  Satan would have us believe there is nothing after this life.  Jesus would have us believe that the worth of your soul is great.  Satan would have us believe we are worthless.  Jesus would say, it's ok to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them and become wise.  He offers hope. Satan would have us believe that once you make a mistake, God the Father (if he exists) won't have us anymore.  So you might as well give up hope.

So the question becomes.  What do you believe?  Who do you believe?  You have the free agency to chose what you want.

As a father myself, I remember being little.  I remember making my own mistakes and finding out that my parents still loved me anyway.  As a father, I have learned that I have no choice but to love you anyway.  Because to love you, is to love myself.  For I am responsible for bringing you into this world through the the miracle of my own body.  And to teach you is a reflection of my own actions and beliefs.  If I did not love you, I could not love myself.

I am sure God The Father is the same way.  For I am created in his image.  He is all loving.

Sydney reminded me of the parable of the prodigal son; Luke ch. 15

11 ¶And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 12 And the younger of them said to hisfather, Father, give me the portion of goodsthat falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wastedhis substance with riotous living.

 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Sydney drew a parallel between the two brothers in the parable and God The Father and his two oldest sons.  Are we going to follow the example of our older brother?  If so, which one?  Are we going to spend our lives in riotous living, wasting our inheritance from our Father?  Or are we going to keep the commandments of our father?  And later inherit his Kingdom?

Sydney's wisdom has really sparked my curiosity.  Thank you Sydney for sharing your insight with me.

I thought I should pass these thoughts on to you

I love you very much.  Which means; I wish you all things that are for your good, forever. 

Your Father,

Brandon Swan